Now that the Cygnets are growing and mid - summer is almost upon us ( hard to believe ), it is time for the Pen to start moulting. This is a process which will take about 6 weeks during which time she wont be able to fly. However, Nature has been clever and her partner the Cob will only moult after she gets her new flight feathers - this ensures that one of the adults
will always get airborne to be able to protect their young! Today the pen had a vigorous bath, trying to get rid of parasites and loose feathers.
The island was teeming with life and dozens of ducklings all looking for food, and skirmishes between families abound!
(Below video of pen finishing bathtime.)
3 comments:
Anonymous : just wondering if swans could live on the salt water of pensacola florida
Anon, I have published your comment on here rather than old posting of some months ago.
Right now Pensacola would be a bad bet for any seabirds, going by the oil spill coverage on TV.
I hate to say it but there is a sort of ironic justice to whats happening in the States right now. America has been gas guzzling - and the worst polluter of the planet for the past 50 years, looks like some of it is coming home to roost now !
Anon, I would think florida would be too warm a climate for Mute swans, and they are essentially a freshwater bird that frequent coastal waters seasonally.
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